Evaluation of serum trace elements in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: T2DM is a widespread health issue where resistance to insulin action can result in an increased blood level of glucose. In the last decades, the prevalence of T2DM has dramatically elevated. Several research groups had reported that trace elements like Fe, Zn, Mg, and Cu may be involved in DM pathophysiology. These essential elements may be also involved in the development of vascular diseases and neuropathy usually seen in diabetic patients through binding to Glycated proteins. Aim: To evaluate the serum Zn, Cu, Mg, and Fe in patients with T2DM and healthy controls. And to assertion the relation between HbA1c and trace element in T2DM. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Endocrine and Diabetes Unit at Azadi Teaching Hospital, in the Duhok city in Iraq. This study was performed in 92 subjects, 70 were T2DM patients and 22 were non-diabetic subjects. Mg and Fe were measured by using the autoanalyzer Cobas C 311. Cu and Zn were measured by autoanalyzer Biolis 24i, and HbA1c was done by (HPLC D10) autoanalyzer device. Results: Zn, Mg and Fe concentrations were significantly lower in patients with T2DM than those without diabetes. In contrast, Cu in serum was significantly higher in T2DM than those without diabetes. Our study was also reported to have a significant positive correlation between Cu and HbA1c and a negative correlation between Mg, Zn and Fe with HbA1c. Conclusion: Patients with T2DM had altered metabolism of Zn, Mg, Fe, and Cu. this may be related to the increased level of HbA1c. Impaired metabolism of these trace elements may have a contributory role in the progression of DM and its complications.